How To Install A Cabin Air Filter On A Subaru Legacy

Below is a video on how to install a cabin air filter on a Subaru Legacy.

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Today we will be showing you how to install a cabin air filter on an 2005 Subaru Legacy.

To start we need to remove the chrome ring around the shift knob. To do that we can use a panel tool or a flat screw driver and pry it up. Take your time as not to scratch the plastic. Once we have the chrome ring removed we can use the panel tool to remove the shifter bezel by prying upwards on the part closer to the center console. Once we have pop it loose we can slide it away from the dash and turn it a bit.

With the shifter bezel out of the way we can take a screw driver and remove the screw that holds the side trim on. Now that we have the screw removed we can remove the side trim by lifting the bottom and then pulling it straight back away from the dash.

Now that we have that side trim removed we can remove the two screws one near the top and one near the bottom that hold the side of the center console. With those two screws removed we can move over to the end of the dash on the passenger side.

Once there we can use our panel tool to pry loose the end panel pry on the bottom to undo that clip and then wiggle the top out from behind the dash. Now that we have that end panel off we can open the glove box and remove or unhook the rod or string on the right side of the glove box. Now that we have the string or rod removed we can remove the two push clips. The smaller one that holds the glove box housing to the metal bracket and the larger one that is the pivot pin for the glove box. To remove them use a Phillips screw driver to turn the middle part out then you can use your hand or a pair of needle nose pliers to remove the other part of the clip.

With those two push clips removed we can squeeze the sides of the glove box together and slide the guides out of the tracks. Then lower the passenger side of the glove box and pull it towards the passenger door to remove it from the pin on the driver’s side of the glove box. Now that we have the glove box removed you will see three push pins on the bottom of the glove box housing. Use a flat screw driver to pop them out and then grab them with a pair of needle nose pliers. Once we have those three push pins removed we can remove that panel. The passenger side of the panel is tucked into the passenger side kick plate so you will need to wiggle it out to remove the panel.

Now that we have that lower panel removed we can remove the two Phillip screws ­­­­­on the left and right of the pocket. Once we have the screws out we can push out a push pin on the passenger side of the glove box housing by squeezing it together and then push it out of the glove box housing. Once we have that push pin pushed out we can come back up to the center console and use a flat screw driver to pop the tab over the black part.

Now that we have that tab popped over we can pull on the middle of the console side to bow it out so we can remove the three tabs that go into the glove box housing. Once we have those three clips removed we can pull outward on the glove box housing as there are push clips on the top of it. Now that we have the glove box housing removed we can locate the cabin air filter door.

Next squeeze the two tabs on each side of the filter door and then pull the filter out of the filter housing. With the filter removed you may want to take a shop-vac and vacuum out the inside of the filter housing. To remove the old filter out of the filter holder just push it up and out of the filter holder. Next open your new cabin air filter and install by pushing it into filter holder. Be sure to make sure its flat in the holder.

Once we have the new filter installed in the filter holder we can slide it back into the filter housing. Once we have it in make sure that all four clips and clipped back in to ensure that the filter door will properly seal. Next we can lift up and align the clips along the top of the glove box housing and clip them back in making sure the glove box latch goes though the hole.

With the glove box housing reinstalled we can reinstall the side of the center console. Grab it in the middle and bow it out and align the three tabs with the holes in the glove box housing and then make sure the top tab goes back over and lines up with the screw hole give it a few tabs to close the gap.

Next we can take a Phillips screw driver and reinstall the two screws in the glove box housing one on the left and the one on the right. Next we need to reinstall the push clip we removed early. It will be on the outside of the glove box housing we will align the push pin and push it into the hole in the glove box housing you may need to wiggle it to line it up.

Now that we have that push pin reinstalled we can reinstall the lower kick panel. First slide it back into position and then tuck the right side back over the sill plate and align the three holes. Then reinstall the three push clips by just pushing them in.

With that lower kick panel reinstalled we can now reinstall the glove box. First we need to align the pin on the driver’s side with the hole in the glove box. Once that’s aligned we can squeeze the sides together and slide the guides back into the track. With the glove box back in position we can reinstall the two push pins on the side. The smaller one goes into the glove box housing then into the metal bracket. The larger one goes though the hole behind the smaller clip and into the glove box to act as the hinge.

We those two push clips reinstalled we can reconnect the rod or string from the glove box over the tab. Next we can reinstall the end panel cover. Start with the tab on the edge and then tuck the top behind the dash and then push the rest of the clips in. Once we have that end cover reinstalled we can reinstall the two screws in the side panel of the center console. Once we have those two screws tight we can reinstall the trim that covers them. Start with the top clip and then make sure the bottom edge is in the correct position and the screw hole lines up. Push the rest of the clips in and once its lined and the clips are pushed in we can reinstall the Phillips screw to hold it in position.

With the side trim reinstalled we can now reinstall the shifter bezel. First align the top two tabs with the holes in the dash and then push down on the side closer to the cup holder to push in the tabs and lock it in. With the shifter bezel in we can now reinstall the chrome ring by sliding it over the shifter and lowering it into the hole and pushing it in to lock it into position. The larger side goes to the front of the car.

With that chrome ring reinstalled that’s it we just showed you how to replace a cabin air filter in your Subaru legacy.

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3 comments

Thanks, good video. You do a good job recapping what you’ve just done at the beginning of each next step. I just demonstrated that I can accomplish in 3 hours, a job that take you about 11 minutes…It turned out there wan’t even a filter to change; that’s probably why the lower panel clothe was so nasty. I installed a new filter, with only one broken push pin – on the glove box top. It would help if I knew a way to pop those pins without breaking them, when I can’t get close enough to them easily to compress or pry them.

Yes, when recirculation mode is on it draws air from below the glove box near the passengers left foot. You could put it on recirculation mode and hold a plastic store bag below the glove box and it should be drawn to the intake.